Year: 2012

David Peaston (1957 – February 1, 2012) was an American R&B/gospel singer who in 1990 won a Soul Train Music Award for Best R&B/Soul or Rap New Artist. He is mostly known for the singles, “Two Wrongs (Don’t Make it Right)” and “Can I?”, the latter of which was originally recorded by Eddie Kendricks.

In the late 1980s, Peaston, a former schoolteacher, won several competitions on the Showtime at the Apollo television show, winning over the audience with a powerful rendition of “God Bless the Child.”

David Peaston cause of death
David Peaston died from complications of diabetes on February 1, 2012 in St. Louis, Missouri.
David Peaston  was 54 years old at the time of his death.

David Peaston – 2 Wrongs

Donald Cortez “Don” Cornelius (September 27, 1936 – February 1, 2012) was an American television show host and producer who is best known as the creator of the nationally syndicated dance/music franchise Soul Train, which he hosted from 1971-1993. Cornelius sold the show to MadVision Entertainment in 2008.

Don Cornelius Cause of Death
Don Cornelius died of a self-inflicted gunshot.  Cornelius suffered from dementia and his health had been on the decline.
Don Cornelius was 75 years old at the time of his death

Don Cornelius Grooving Down the Soul Train Line

Leslie Carter (June 6, 1986 – January 31, 2012) was an American pop singer best known as the sister of fellow singers Nick and Aaron Carter.

Leslie Carter cause of death
Leslie Carter died in Westfield, New York.  Cause of death was not released, but people suspect drug overdose.  Leslie Carter was 25 years old at the time of her death.

Leslie Carter – Like wow

John Rich (July 6, 1925 – January 29, 2012) was a film and television director. He directed such television shows as Where’s Raymond?, Mister Ed, The Dick Van Dyke Show, All in the Family, The Jeffersons, Maude, Good Times, Barney Miller, Newhart, Benson, The Brady Bunch, Bonanza, The Rifleman, The Twilight Zone, Murphy Brown, and Gilligan’s Island.

His feature film credits include Wives and Lovers, Boeing Boeing, Roustabout and Easy Come, Easy Go (the latter two starring Elvis Presley). He also participated in the live telecast of the opening day ceremonies of Disneyland in 1955. He won an Emmy for The Dick Van Dyke Show, two Emmys for All in the Family, and two Golden Globes for All in the Family.

In the 1980s Rich and Henry Winkler formed a production company called Henry Winkler/John Rich Productions and together they produced MacGyver for Paramount Television.

John Rich cause of death
John Rich died of heart failure.
John Rich was 86 years old at the time of his death

John Rich directed this famous episode of All in the family
Sammy Davis Jr. Kissing Archie Bunker

Dimitra Arliss (October 23, 1932 – January 26, 2012), sometimes credited as Dimitra Arlys, was an American actress.  She played a hired killer alongside Robert Redford and Paul Newman in The Sting.

Partial filmography
The Sting (1973)
Rich Man, Poor Man Book II (1976)
The Other Side of Midnight (1977)
A Perfect Couple (1979)
Xanadu (1980)
Firefox (1982)
Eleni (1985)
It’s My Party (1996)
Bless the Child (2000)

Dimitra Arliss cause of death
Dimitra Arliss died of complications from a stroke.
Dimitra Arliss was 79 years old at the time of her death

The Sting (7/10) Movie CLIP – Johnny Gets the Girl (1973)

Clare Fischer (October 22, 1928 – January 26, 2012) was an American keyboardist, composer, arranger, and bandleader. After graduating from Michigan State University, he became the pianist and arranger for the vocal group The Hi-Lo’s in the late 1950s. Fischer went on to work with Dizzy Gillespie and Donald Byrd, and became known for his Latin and bossa nova recordings in the 1960s. He composed the jazz standard, “Pensativa”. Fischer was nominated for eleven Grammy Awards, winning two for his albums, Clare Fischer and Salsa Picante Present 2+2 (1981) and Free Fall (1986), where he merged Latin and vocal music. Fischer also became an in-demand arranger for pop albums, working with Prince, Michael Jackson, Paul McCartney, Celine Dion, Robert Palmer, and many others.

Fischer wrote for Prince and many other renowned artists including Michael Jackson, Amy Grant, João Gilberto, Paula Abdul, Natalie Cole and more recently Chaka Khan and Branford Marsalis.

Clare Fischer cause of death
On January 8, 2012, Fischer suffered a cardiac arrest in Los Angeles, following a minor surgery a few days before. His wife of 18 years, Donna, was at his side and performed CPR, which saved his life. He remained in ICU on life support, and died on January 26, 2012.  Clare Fischer was 83 years old at the time of his death.

Bud Shank & Clare Fischer ‘Wistful Samba’ on Franly Jazz

Ian Abercrombie (September 11, 1934 – January 26, 2012) was an English actor, best known for playing Alfred Pennyworth in Birds of Prey. He appeared as Elaine Benes’ fastidious boss, Justin Pitt during the sixth season of Seinfeld, and later as an even more fastidious butler on Desperate Housewives.

Ian Abercrombie Cause of Death
Ian Abercrombie died in Hollywood on 26 January 2012, from undisclosed causes. Ian Abercrombie was 77 years old at the time of his death.

Mr. Pitt

Robert Hegyes (May 7, 1951 – January 26, 2012) was an American actor best known for his portrayal of high school student Juan Epstein on the 1970s American sitcom Welcome Back, Kotter.

Robert Hegyes Cause of Death
On January 26, 2012, after suffering from chest pains at his Metuchen, New Jersey home, Hegyes died from an apparent heart attack at John F. Kennedy Medical Center in Edison, New Jersey. Robert Hegyes was 60 years old at the time of his death.

Welcome Back, Kotter Wedding Scene (this video is likely to get deleted)

Dick Kniss played stand-up bass behind Peter, Paul and Mary for more than 40 years.

Dick Kniss cause of death
Kick Kniss died of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Dick Kniss was 74 years old at the time of his death.

Peter Paul & Mary – Puff the Magic Dragon
You can see Kick Kniss (I assume) standing on the side in dark.

James Farentino (February 24, 1938 – January 24, 2012) was an American actor. He appeared in nearly 100 television, film and stage roles, among them The Final Countdown, Jesus of Nazareth, and Dynasty.

Farentino was charged with stalking his former girlfriend, Tina Sinatra (youngest child of Frank Sinatra), in 1993. A restraining order was issued against him after he entered a plea of nolo contendere.

James Farentino cause of death
On January 24, 2012, Farentino died of heart failure at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California following a long illness.  James Farentino was 73 years old at the time of his death.

Dead & Buried (1981) International Trailer